Time to get rid of my XJ8 (X308)?
Discussion
Had my XJ8 back from the MOT yesterday. I had the work done to get it through the MOT but nothing on the advisory list done. If I add in the cost of getting the arches tidied up I will be spending more than I bought the car for to get it through the next MOT. There is a V Reg S Type V8 with 55K on the clock for £3K near me. Tempted to see what the dealer will give me part ex.....
Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)
Nearside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)
Offside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)
Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Advisory Notice issued
Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Offside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a slightly worn rubber bush (2.7.4)
Offside Front Shock absorber has a slightly worn rubber bush (2.7.4)
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.3)
Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)
Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.1a)
Fuel pipe/s corroded
Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)
Nearside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)
Offside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)
Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Advisory Notice issued
Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Offside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a slightly worn rubber bush (2.7.4)
Offside Front Shock absorber has a slightly worn rubber bush (2.7.4)
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.3)
Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)
Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.1a)
Fuel pipe/s corroded
Edited by plasticpig on Thursday 28th May 09:17
taldo50 said:
how much would you like for the old girl?
Not sure really. Looking on Autotrader XJ8 3.2 Sports start at around £1600. My one has 80K on the clock so below average mileage. It now has a years MOT and has just had a service.The problem is the car has lived most of it's life in Scotland so is suffering from rusty wheel arches. There were a couple of minor blemishes on the arches when I bought it but the the severe winter has caused it to spread far faster than I expected. Its by no means terminal but needs urgent attention to stop the spread. I don't want to do a cosmetic fix and then flog it to some unsuspecting punter so it will cost quite a bit of money to fix properly. I suspect I wouldn't be offered more than £1200 as a trade in and would probably be looking around that figure if sold privately.
plasticpig said:
Had my XJ8 back from the MOT yesterday. I had the work done to get it through the MOT but nothing on the advisory list done. If I add in the cost of getting the arches tidied up I will be spending more than I bought the car for to get it through the next MOT. There is a V Reg S Type V8 with 55K on the clock for £3K near me. Tempted to see what the dealer will give me part ex.....
Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)
Nearside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)
Offside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)
Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Advisory Notice issued
Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Offside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a slightly worn rubber bush (2.7.4)
Offside Front Shock absorber has a slightly worn rubber bush (2.7.4)
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.3)
Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)
Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.1a)
Fuel pipe/s corroded
Mmmmm Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)
Nearside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)
Offside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)
Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Advisory Notice issued
Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Offside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a slightly worn rubber bush (2.7.4)
Offside Front Shock absorber has a slightly worn rubber bush (2.7.4)
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.3)
Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)
Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.1a)
Fuel pipe/s corroded
Edited by plasticpig on Thursday 28th May 09:17
I'd find another MOT tester if I were you. Your current one sounds like he's being very picky indeed.If a bush is not allowing any excess movement then any "deterioration" can only be on the surface and is of no consequence. Even if the bushes do deteriorate in the future to the point that they allow excess movement the ones in question are not difficult or expensive to change - XJ rear anti roll bar link bushes for example are about £1.60 each and it takes literally seconds to replace all 8 of them.
Being realistic - your XJ is probrably worth pennies in a part exchange - here's what I'd do. If you like the car then spend some beer tokens on cosmetic repairs, saturate it in Waxoil (not only will this preserve the bodywork but it'll also stop corrosion on fuel and brake pipes and rejuvenate the bushes too - just drive an older car before and after Waxoiling - you'll be amazed at the difference), set aside a few hundred quid each year for maintainence and fluid changes - maybe learn to do some of the work yourself - and enjoy it for the next few years. At 80k it's got plenty of life left in it yet and chances are it'll be the cheapest Jaguar driving you'll ever do.
If you've got to the stage where you hate the sight of it and dread the next thing going wrong then sure, get rid of. But just don't expect the next £3/4/5k Jaguar to significantly better than what you've already got or to be much cheaper to run either.
Gassing Station | Jaguar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff